Chapter 6 — The Silence Between Two Loves

It's assistant Tran. He answered the phone. Say a few words— His face immediately changed.

“Are you sure?”

His voice lowered.

“When did it happen?”

The other end of the line spoke for a long time. His expression went from surprised— To angry— Then turned cold. That look... I'm so familiar with it. That's the look he uses when negotiating in the marketplace.

“I know.”

He hung up the phone and stood up.

“What's going on?”

"The company has something to do. I have to go home."

He bent down and rubbed Niem Niem's head.

“Niem Niem, next time dad will come again.”

Nien Niem waved his hand. He walked to the door— Then stopped. Turn your head to look at me.

"Tong Van, these days... please pay attention to safety."

“…What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

He stopped for a moment.

“Just… pay attention to safety.”

He left. Leaving me standing there— Still holding a block of unfinished dough in my hand. That sentence— Like a thorn, stuck in my heart.

“Pay attention to safety.”

Under what circumstances— Would an ex-husband... say that to his ex-wife? I didn't have to wait long. Three days later— I closed the shop and put Niem Niem to sleep. Sitting in the living room watching TV. My mother is already sleeping. In the room— There was only flickering light from the screen. The phone rang. I answered the phone. On the other end of the line was a man's voice, low and with a slight local accent:

“Tong Van?”

“Who are you?”

“You don't need to know who I am.”

His voice was cold.

“I just ask one question—has Tham Tri Ngam come to see you often lately?”

My heart skipped a beat.

"Who are you anyway?"

“Tong Van, let me give you some advice.”

He laughed softly. The smile was chillingly cold.

“Stay away from Tham Tri Ngam for a bit.”

“He is not a good person.”

“What he's holding in his hand... doesn't belong to him.”

“If you're smart—”

“Then take your child with you and go far away.”

“Don't get stuck in this murky water.”

"What are you talking about? What doesn't belong to him?"

“Don't you know?”

The other end of the line laughed.

“Your father—Tong Vien Son—”

“How to die?”

The blood in my body— That moment froze.

“What… did you say?”

“Do you really think your father was hit and killed by a truck?”

The man's voice was as cold as ice.

“Tong Van, you are too naive.”

“Your father has been driving for the Tham family for thirty years... how many things he holds in his hands, do you know?”

“He died... the happiest person was Tham Tri Ngam.”

“You're talking nonsense—”

“Whether or not I said something wrong, you can find out for yourself.”

He laughed softly.

“The day your father happened, whose car was he driving?”

“The Tham family's car.”

“And on that car… is there anything, do you know?”

The phone is disconnected. I sit on the sofa. Whole body trembled. Not out of fear. A kind of coldness... seeps from the very marrow of my bones. That day my father was driving the Tham family's car. This… I know. After retiring, the old man gave his old car to my father, saying it had been with him for more than ten years, leaving it to him as a means of transportation. My father really appreciates that car. Every day, clean it until it shines. In that car... what was there? My father is just a driver. What do you have... worth being killed for? I began to remember every detail. After something happened to my father, that car was towed to the traffic squad's yard. Tham Tri Ngam let assistant Tran handle all the after-effects. Including the disposal of the vehicle. At that time, I was immersed in the pain of losing my father. No more mind to care. But now thinking back— Everything… was very unusual. A retired driver— Was hit by a truck that ran a red light right in front of the market. The driver who caused the accident was arrested on the spot. Twenty years old. Don't drink alcohol. Do not use stimulants. Just... "not paying attention". Sentenced to three years. So clean... without a single gap. But that phone call— Made me start to have doubts. All of that... Was it really just an accident? I picked up the phone. Hesitated for a long time. Finally click call.

“Nghien Bach, I need you to help me investigate something.”

“What?”

“The cause of my father's death.”

The other end of the line was silent for three seconds. Chu Nghien Bach said.

“You send me all the information. I will look it up.”

“Thank you.”

“Tong Van.”

He called me back.

“Are you… okay?”

“Your voice is shaking.”

I took a deep breath:

“I'm fine, really. It's just... there are a few things that need to be clarified.”

“Leave it to me.”

“Don't carry it alone.”

I sit in the dark. Look at the moonlight outside the window. In the inner room, Niem Niem turned around and muttered: I'm not moving. I kept repeating those words over and over in my head—

“How did your father… die?”

“The happiest person... is Tham Tri Ngam.”

Tham Tri Ngam. What exactly have you been hiding from me? Chu Nghien Bach investigated very quickly. He is a lawyer, has connections, and has channels. In less than a week— You sent me a report.

“The situation… is quite complicated.”

His tone was more serious than usual.

"I advise you to go to the city. We can talk in person."

“Just say it.”

“… Tong Van, there are things… once you know it, you can't turn back.”

“Nghien Bach.”

I tightened my grip on the phone.

“That's my dad.”

He was silent for a moment.

“So I'll be honest.”

“The car the day your father had the accident, after being towed to the traffic squad's parking lot... the next day was taken away by Tham Tri Ngam's people.”

“According to regulations, accident vehicles must be kept for at least fifteen days for assessment.”

“But Tham Tri Ngam used his connections to complete all the procedures on the same day and tow the car away.”

“What's in the car...?”

“That's the problem.”